This morning we slept through our alarms, so we got a late start. Little did I know this would become my 10-minute tom turkey hunt…
We had almost decided not to go out, but after driving around the block, we spotted a tom out in the field behind one of our spots and decided to go for it.
We hurried out and got to a point in our woods where we knew we could cut him off. We set up our decoys up and tucked ourselves in the brush about 20 yards from them.
The call, the answer and the kill… all N 10 minutes
I yelped with my call and he hammered back. I yelped again and no noise… but then, less than 2 minutes later, he came up over the hill and was locked in on our jake decoy.
He never even saw me and I dumped him at about 15 yards! We couldn’t believe it all unfolded so perfectly in only 10 minutes!
It was my first time calling on my own so I felt extremely proud of myself. All the work I put in over the years learning from Greg and our hunting buddies has finally started to pay off.
Below is a comprehensive overview of the N1 hunting and fishing shirts. If you want the detailed information on all the apparel designs, read below. Each image links to the item in our products section.
The design is not only a catfish, but also an arm and fist (with a bulging bicep, we might add!) that continues the tradition here at N1 of creative and clever designs. The fist is for all those noodlers out there that know you have to get a good grip on that lower jaw of the catfish if you’re going to pull it out of that hole!
The Put A Hand N1 Noodling Tee (Dark Heather Sport Navy)
White and Dark Heather Sport Navy Put A Hand N1™ Noodling Tee Features:
● Preshrunk jersey knit ● Moisture-wicking properties ● Seamless double-needle 7/8″ collar ● Taped neck and shoulders ● Pad printed neck label and double-satin shoulder label ● Double-needle sleeve and bottom hems
The Daniel Cliburn “Ntruder Buck” Tee
There are few things that got us as excited as partnering with wildlife artist Daniel Cliburn. The “Ntruder Buck” design is the first shirt design from this amazing artist. We wanted a unique design for deer season 2018 and Daniel certainly delivered. We took Daniel’s original painting and turned it into a hunting t-shirt that any deer hunter can appreciate.
This design captures a image that every deer hunter dreams about… the moment a huge buck comes into range… but wait, it’s two huge bucks! Imagine having a front row seat to Mr. Big as he sees that an intruder buck is in his territory. In this design, you get a view through the big set of antlers of buck #1 as he stares down buck #2. When you view the incredible detail of the anatomy of these deer, it’s easy to forget that it’s actually a painting!
We wanted the quality of the shirt to match the incredible quality of Daniel’s art, which is why we printed this design on Comfort Colors shirts (Washed Denim and Bay colors available.)
The Ntruder Buck Tee (Bay)
The Ntruder Buck Tee (Washed Denim)
Bay And Washed Denim Ntruder Buck Tee Features:
● 100% ring spun cotton (soft washed and dyed) ● Double needle collar ● Twill taped neck and shoulders and twill label ● Left chest pocket with double needle hem and double ● Double-needle sleeve, bottom, armhole and single needle chest pocket
The Cutt’N Up Turkey Tee
The N1 Outdoors® Cutt’N Up turkey shirt design is a great option for anyone who loves to turkey hunt and wants a casual tee to stay comfortable in during outdoor activities.
Turkey hunters will appreciate the turkey hunting references in this design. As with all our outdoor apparel and shirt designs, we wanted to do more with this turkey hunting t shirt than just show a strutting tom, as with most turkey hunting shirts. We wanted something… different.
The mouth call and N1 Outdoors branded box call and slate call are key parts of this design, along with a few shotgun shells.
The tom and hen shadows in the background, overlaying the clever play on words (Cutt’N Up) give a unique twist to this N1 design.
This turkey hunting shirt comes in both heather brown and heather charcoal colors.
The Cutt’N Up Turkey Tee (Heather Brown)
The Cutt’N Up Turkey Tee (Heather Charcoal)
Heather Brown Cutt’N Up Turkey Tee Features:
● 65% polyester / 35% ring-spun cotton ● 30/1 fine knit jersey fabric ● Tear-away label ● Side-seamed, with ribbed crew neck and taped neck and shoulders
Heather Charcoal Cutt’N Up Turkey Tee Features:
● 50% polyester / 50% ring-spun cotton ● 30/1 fine knit jersey fabric ● Tear-away label ● Ribbed crew neck, with taped neck and shoulders ● Double-needle sleeve and bottom hem
The N1 Outdoors® Word Cloud Tee
The N1 Outdoors® Word Cloud Tee features no animals, fish or outdoor images, and yet it captures them all N1 design! This N1 Word Cloud design was meant to be a play on words, of sorts.
By using the words hunting, fishing and the outdoors to make up the N1 logo, this design is truly all of those things all N1! A great shirt to wear for all types of outdoor activities. So, if you like to hunt, fish and you enjoy all types of outdoor activities, this shirt lets you represent them all at once!
This N1 shirt comes in both heather orange and heather royal colors.
The N1 Outdoors Word Cloud Tee (Heather Orange)
The N1 Outdoors Word Cloud Tee (Heather Royal)
Heather Orange N1 Word Cloud Tee Features:
● 65% polyester / 35% ring-spun cotton ● 30/1 fine knit jersey fabric ● Tear-away label, side-seamed, ribbed crew neck and taped neck and shoulders
Heather Royal N1 Word Cloud Tee Features:
● Pre-shrunk, jersey knit fabric, 65% Polyester, 35% ring-spun cotton ● Taped neck and shoulders ● Tear away label ● “Rolled forward” shoulders and double-needle sleeve, bottom hem and ¾” seamless collar
This tee features not only super soft fabric, but artwork that every bowhunter can relate with and proudly wear, in season or in the off-season.
The arrow in the design comes toward the onlooker, while a broadhead hole is left behind. The artwork is a play on words as well as a clever design twist on the phrase “just passing through.”
Look closely at the arrow shaft and you will see a streak that looks like the center line of a highway. Perfect for just passing through! If you are a bowhunter or archery addict, then this N1 shirt is for you!
The Just Pass’N Through shirt comes in both heather brown and heather royal colors.
This shirt is not only our most popular bowhunting shirt designs, it’s one of our best-selling hunting tshirts, period!
Just Pass’N Through Tee (Heather Brown)
Just Pass’N Through (Heather Royal)
Heather Brown Just Pass’N Through Tee Features:
● 65% polyester / 35% ring-spun cotton ● 30/1 fine knit jersey fabric ● Tear-away label ● Side-seamed, with ribbed crew neck and taped neck and shoulders
Heather Royal Just Pass’N Through Tee Features:
● Pre-shrunk, jersey knit fabric, 65% Polyester, 35% ring-spun cotton ● Taped neck and shoulders ● Tear away label ● “Rolled forward” shoulders ● Double-needle sleeve, bottom hem and ¾” seamless collar
The Bowhunt Oh Yeah™ Tee
The N1 Outdoors®Bowhunt Oh Yeah shirt design is our salute to bowhunters everywhere. From top to bottom, this shirt is for those who love to bowhunt.
Bowhunters tend to be a passionate group of hunters. This design captures the essence of an archery pass through shot with the large broadhead hole on the back of the shirt and the words “oh yeah.” The left sleeve features the N1 Outdoors® words and logo.
We have heard from bowhunters across the country and many of them wanted a shirt that was so comfortable that when they wear it while shooting in any stance, they don’t even notice it. (Because after all, if you’re not thinking about how uncomfortable a shirt is, you can focus on aim small, miss small!)
So, we wanted the sleeves to be loose enough not to be felt when at full draw. We also wanted the torso of this shirt to be long enough so that bowhunters, male and female, can feel confident that their midsection is completely covered while shooting their bows.
Finally, we wanted the fabric to be extremely soft and comfortable so that bowhunters wanted to wear it not only to shoot in, but to proudly represent bowhunting and the N1 branding as much as possible!
Bowhunt Oh Yeah Tee Front
Bowhunt Oh Yeah Tee Back
Heather Graphite Bowhunt Oh Yeah™ Tee Features:
● 50% polyester / 50% ring-spun cotton ● 30/1 fine knit jersey fabric ● Tear-away label ● Ribbed crew neck, with taped neck and shoulders ● Double-needle sleeve and bottom hem
The Licking Branch Buck Tee
The N1 Outdoors® Licking Branch Buck tee captures an incredible hunting moment of a trophy buck using a licking branch. These are the types of unforgettable moments the outdoors is known for.
The long-sleeve shirt is 100% cotton and is a heavier shirt, for wear in the fall and winter.
The short-sleeve shirt is a poly-cotton blend that is lightweight, soft and comfortable. If you like your short sleeves to be snug and relatively short, this shirt gives you an athletic fit.
The long-sleeve shirt is available in black and the short-sleeve version is available in heather Irish.
The Licking Branch Buck Tee (Short-Sleeve Heather Irish)
The Licking Branch Buck Tee (Long-Sleeve Black)
Heather Irish short-sleeve Licking Branch Buck Tee Features:
Black, long-sleeve Licking Branch Buck Tee Features:
● 5.3 oz., 100% pre-shrunk, jersey knit cotton ● 7/8”, seamless, double-needle collar ● Taped neck and shoulders ● Tear away label ● Rib sleeve cuffs ● Double-needle bottom hem
The Hydroglyphic™ Bass Tee
The N1 Outdoors®Hydroglyphic™ Bass shirt design captures the power and strength of America’s most popular freshwater game fish in a creative way. The bass and the crankbait lure it is chasing are both made of water!
The name Hydroglyphic is a play on the word “hieroglyphic,” referring to ancient pictographs made by Native Americans. The prefix “hiero” is replaced with “hydro,” giving this shirt a clever name. It almost looks like this largemouth is going to sling water right on you!
The rather loose-fitting Hydroglyphic Bass tee poly/cotton fabric is perfect for staying comfortable on your next fishing trip or outdoor activity. It is available in heather graphite color.
The Put A Hook N1 Hydroglyphic Bass Tee
Heather Graphite Hydroglyphic™ Bass Tee Features:
● 50% polyester / 50% ring-spun cotton ● 30/1 fine knit jersey fabric ● Tear-away label ● Ribbed crew neck, with taped neck and shoulders ● Double-needle sleeve and bottom hem
The Put A Hook N1™ Redfish Tee
The N1 Outdoors® Put A Hook N1™ Redfish tee is an incredibly unique design featuring this popular saltwater fish.
The redfish in the design is made up entirely of various sizes of circle hooks. The N1 fishing shirts tagline, “Put A Hook N1” is prominently, yet simply, displayed under the redfish.
Onlookers will see a redfish at first glance. But, as they get closer will see hundreds of fishing hooks. If you love wearing fishing shirts that are unlike anything else out there, this design is a great option.
This design is available in both in a heather royal poly/cotton blend and 100% cotton corn silk fabric.
This shirt has an athletic fit with short and snug-fitting sleeves. If you want the corn silk color, you might consider purchasing a size larger than you normally wear. Although this fabric is pre-shrunk cotton, we have noticed that some shrinkage can occur during washing and drying.
Put A Hook N1 Redfish Hooks Tee (Heather Royal)
Put A Hook N1 Redfish Tee (Corn Silk)
Heather Royal Put A Hook N1 Redfish Tee Features:
● Pre-shrunk, jersey knit fabric, 65% Polyester, 35% ring-spun cotton ● Taped neck and shoulders ● Tear away label ● “Rolled forward” shoulders ● Double-needle sleeve, bottom hem and ¾” seamless collar
Corn Silk Put A Hook N1 Redfish Tee Features:
● 100%, preshrunk jersey knit cotton ● ¾” seamless, double-needle collar ● Taped neck and “rolled forward” shoulders ● Tear away label ● Double-needle sleeves and bottom hem
The Trifecta Fish Arrow Tee
The N1 Outdoors® Trifecta Fish Arrow shirt design is another clever combination of hunting, fishing and the outdoors all N1 shirt design.
The fish bones are also trees and water reflection. The fish head doubles as a Native American arrow head. The arrow shaft is also the shoreline. And, the arrow fletches are the fish tail.
This shirt is printed on a tri-blend fabric that is extremely comfortable, lightweight and soft, making it ideal for just about any outdoor occasion. It’s a perfect shirt for staying comfortable when shooting your bow or just relaxing outside. Who knows, maybe this shirt will bring you some luck on your next fishing trip with friends!
The Trifecta Fish Arrow tee is available in vintage black (with both white and fluorescent yellow print) and Torquoise (neon pink print).
Trifecta Fish Arrow Tee (Black/White)
Trifecta Fish Arrow Tee (Fluorescent Yellow)
Trifecta Fish Arrow Tee (Turquoise/Pink)
Vintage Black and Turquoise Trifecta Fish Arrow Tee Features:
● 4.3 oz., 50% Polyester, 25% combed, ring-spun cotton and 25% rayon fabric ● Crew neck with set-in collar and 1×1 baby rib ● Satin label
The N1 Outdoors® N1 Mountain Tee
The N1 Outdoors® N1 Mountain tee combines the flagship N1 logo with a simple mountain and reflection. This is the perfect shirt to show your love of the N1 brand as well as the outdoors. Hike, fish, or relax N1!
The N1 Mountain tee is perfect for fishing or when hiking, or even as a casual wear tshirt. This shirt has an athletic fit with short and tapered sleeves. Like the heather royal version of our redfish tee, it comes in a comfortable poly-cotton blend fabric in both heather Irish and heather navy colors.
The N1 Mountain Tee (Heather Navy)
The N1 Mountain Tee (Heather Irish)
Heather Irish / Heather Navy N1 Mountain Tee Features:
● Pre-shrunk, jersey knit fabric, 65%/35% poly/cotton ● Taped neck and shoulders ● Tear away label ● “Rolled forward” shoulders
The Put A Hook N1 UPF30 TriBlock Offshore Performance Fishing Shirt
With its UPF30 sun protection factor, this extremely soft fabric will not only help protect you from the sun’s ultraviolet rays, but will keep you comfortable and dry on those long fishing trips. These performance fishing shirts are available in light blue and white colors. Get one for your next offshore fishing adventure!
The Put A Hook N1 TriBlock Offshore Performance Fishing Shirt (White)
The Put A Hook N1 TriBlock Offshore Performance Fishing Shirt (Light Blue)
Put A Hook N1 UPF30 TriBlock performance fishing shirts features:
Complete with moisture-wicking fabric and UPF 30 ultraviolet protection, you can be sure you’ll stay dry and comfortable while chasing those big offshore fish. View this and other fishing shirts by clicking the image below.
The Put A Hook N1 Marlin Performance Fishing Shirt (White)
The Put A Hook N1 Marlin Performance Fishing Shirt (Light Blue)
Put A Hook N1 UPF30 Marlin Performance Fishing Shirts Features:
The N1 Outdoors® TriBlock Duck tee features three of the most iconic waterfowl: the mallard, wood duck and pintail. Much like our TriBlock offhshore performance fishing shirts, this tee has a simplistic front design, utilizing the negative space in the blocks to showcase the ducks.
The back neck features the N1 Outdoors® logo. This shirt is comfortable and lightweight, making it a great choice for a casual or post-hunt tshirt. Even though duck hunting season is over too soon, you can represent your love of waterfowl year-round in the Tri-Block Duck tee!
It comes in both heather charcoal and military heather colors.
The TriBlock Duck Tee (Heather Charcoal)
The TriBlock Duck Tee (Heather Military)
The Heather Charcoal and Military Heather TriBlock Duck Tee Features:
The N1 Outdoors® N1 America tee is the perfect blend of the N1 brand and good old-fashioned patriotism. We not only love the outdoors, but we love the USA and we know you do too.
We understand that there are men and women who have given up their family time and even their lives to defend this great nation and the freedoms (like the outdoors) that we enjoy on a daily basis.
Like our Bowhunt Oh Yeah and Hydroglyphic Bass tshirts, the N1 America tee is a casual tshirt that is made for comfort.
If you want an N1 shirt that says hunting, fishing, the outdoors… and America all N1, then this is the one for you! It’s available in red cotton as well as heather red colors.
The N1 America Cotton Tee
The N1 America Red Cotton Tee Features:
● 4.5 oz, 100% ring-spun, fine knit jersey cotton with tubular construction ● Crew neck, ribbed, with taped neck and shoulders ● Double-needle sleeve and bottom hem ● Tear anywhere label
The N1 America Heather Red Tee
The N1 America Heather Red Tee Features:
● 50% polyester / 50% ring-spun cotton ● 30/1 fine knit jersey fabric ● Tear-away label ● Ribbed crew neck, with taped neck and shoulders ● Double-needle sleeve and bottom hem
The Put A Hook N1™ Trout Tee
The N1 Outdoors Put A Hook N1™ Trout tee is a great tshirt option for those who love fly fishing and comfortable fishing shirts. This fishing shirt design features the image of a brook trout. It also has word art that captures the essence of the roll cast, a popular fly fishing technique.
The Put A Hook N1 trout tee is available in short and long-sleeves.
The long-sleeve version of the Put A Hook N1 trout fishing shirt is available in navy cotton fabric that is perfect for fall and winter wear, while the short-sleeve design is available in a poly/cotton blend for wear during the warmer months.
The Put A Hook N1 Trout Fly Fishing Tee
Navy blue, long-sleeve Put A Hook N1 Trout Tee Features:
● 5.3 oz., 100% pre-shrunk, jersey knit cotton ● 7/8”, seamless, double-needle collar ● Taped neck and shoulders ● Tear away label ● Rib sleeve cuffs and double-needle bottom hem
The Put A Hook N1 Trout Fly Fishing Tee
Heather denim, short sleeve Put A Hook N1 Trout Tee Features:
● 50% polyester / 50% ring-spun cotton ● 30/1 fine knit jersey fabric ● Tear-away label ● Ribbed crew neck, with taped neck and shoulders ● Double-needle sleeve and bottom hem
The Hide ‘N Seek Buck Tee
The N1 Outdoors®Hide ‘N Seek Buck tee summarizes the elusiveness of the North American Whitetail buck.
Deer hunters know, you can look one direction and then look back and it’s almost like the deer just appeared out of thin air without making a sound. This shirt design features a whitetail buck moving stealthily through the brush. If you want a shirt that identifies you as a deer hunter, this is the one for you.
The Hide ‘N Seek Buck Tee
Hide ‘N Seek Buck Tee Features:
● 100%, preshrunk jersey knit cotton ● ¾” seamless, double-needle collar ● Taped neck and shoulders ● Tear away label ● “Rolled forward” shoulders and double-needle sleeves and bottom hem
The Western Hunter Tee
The N1 Outdoors® Western Hunter tee is another design in our TriBlock series of shirts (other
TriBlock designs are the TriBlock Duck tee and TriBlock Offshore performance fishing shirt).
This shirt features the elk, whitetail deer and mule deer (muley). If you hunt this trifecta of big game out west, you won’t find a more comfortable way to represent.
The Western Hunter Tee
Western Hunter tee features:
● Pre-shrunk, jersey knit fabric, 65% Polyester, 35% ring-spun cotton ● Taped neck and shoulders ● Tear away label ● “Rolled forward” shoulders ● Double-needle sleeve, bottom hem and ¾” seamless collar
This design features various components of the outdoors… a whitetail antler, a circle hook with a palomar knot and cedar trees. This design is much like our other TriBlock designs, but also features a large N1 logo on the back, so you can show your N1 brand pride!
The Flagship tee is available in heather royal color as well as a ladies cut pink cotton. The heather royal is the same base textile as our N1 Mountain, TriBlock Duck and Put A Hook N1 redfish tees.
Pink, ladies cut, N1 Outdoors Flagship Tee Features:
● 100% pre-shrunk, jersey knit cotton ● 7/8”, seamless, double-needle collar ● Taped neck and shoulders ● Tear away label ● Rib sleeve cuffs ● Double-needle bottom hem Preshrunk jersey knit
The Put A Hook N1™ Bass Tee
The N1 Outdoors® Put A Hook N1 bass tee is another one of our clever designs unlike any you have seen elsewhere. Since our apparel launch in 2016, this has been one of our best-selling fishing shirts.
If you love bass fishing and you love to put a hook N1, then this fishing shirt will fit the bill. This shirt is an athletic fit, with snug fit, short sleeves. Perfect for a day of fishing just about anywhere. This design is printed on the same base textile as our redfish, TriBlock Duck, N1 Mountain and N1 Outdoors Flagship shirts.
If you would like further information on our apparel beyond what is on this page, including N1 Outdoors mesh back hats, as well as camo hats, please visit our products page. You can view all our gear, as well as decals and accessories and get the Nside Nformation on how we came up with each design.
Even when it’s not deer season, it’s important to be thinking about ways to make your whitetail deer season a success.
Below are 10 deer hunting tips that hopefully will help you do just that!
READ OUR TOP 10 DEER HUNTING TIPS BELOW AND BECOME A BETTER HUNTER
Deer Hunting Tip #1: Be obsessed with scent control
Never, ever underestimate the importance of wind direction and scent control when hunting whitetail deer. Their noses are sensitive defense systems that help alert them to predators… and that includes you!
Can you just roll up into the woods with a smoldering Marlboro Red dangling from your lips, randomly pick a tree stand or blind to hunt in, and get lucky? Sure, there’s always a story. But, taking this approach is not setting you up for hunting success.
If you want to increase your chances of taking a whitetail, you need to be as “invisible” to the deer as possible. This is why being obsessed with scent control is #1 on our list of deer hunting tips.
You smell good… or do you?
You need to be as under the radar as possible when it comes to defeating the nose of the whitetail deer. Scent control is a must.
Let’s face it, you stink. Sure, you may practice good hygiene, but the truth is, to a whitetail, you are a foul odor!
There are a variety of products on the market that allow hunters to get clean without smelling like a perfume commercial.
Generously using a scent-free soap when you shower (before you go in the woods, not the night before), is a big step in the right direction. But wait, but there’s more you can do.
Your significant other may love that you shower and use sweet smelling soaps, but if you wanta deer hunting date with destiny, you’d better be diligent with smelling, well, like nothing.
What about the towels you dry off with? Do they smell like a rose garden? How much good do you think it will do you to wash with scent-free soap if you immediately dry off with a towel that smells “mountain fresh?”
Do yourself a solid and take care of the scent on your bath towels. Your hunting success could depend on it.
Clothe your body with… nothing
Well, not literally nothing. What we mean here is after you have used a scent-free soap on you and your towels, be sure that your hunting clothes are as scent-free as possible.
Again, there are many scent-free laundry detergents out there to choose from. Washing your hunting clothes in baking soda is also helpful.
And, it probably goes without saying, but when you dry your clothes, don’t add a sweet smelling dryer sheet to the load and completely ruin all the work you’ve done!
When you’re not wearing your hunting clothes, store them in a bag or tote where they can stay as scent free as possible.
IF YOU’RE WONDERING WHAT YOU SHOULD WEAR WHEN HUNTING WHITETAIL… READ ON
The right hunting gear for the weather
A big part of scent control is making sure that you are wearing the right hunting clothes for the type of weather you are hunting in. A good rule of thumb when thinking through what hunting clothes you’re going to wear is this… don’t wear something that will make you sweat.
Whether the forecast calls for hot weather or frigid weather, when it comes to whitetail hunting, sweat is definitely not your friend. As your skin’s bacteria begins to break down the sweat your body produces, odor occurs. And, of course we’ve already talked about how a whitetail feels about your B.O. So, why give them one more reason to bust your while you are walking into the woods or in your deer stand?
Be sure you wear appropriate clothing for the weather you are hunting in. Too little clothing and you’ll be too cold. Too much and you’ll sweat, be cold AND smell bad…
Even if it’s cold weather, wearing too much clothing, especially on a long walk carrying hunting gear, can lead to sweating. Not only will you stink, but you’ll have a very cold day in the deer stand once your body temperature cools down.
One way to prevent sweating is to dress lightly on cold days when walking to your deer stand or permanant blind. You may be cold at first, but as you walk, your body temperature will rise. Once you get to your hunting location, you can add layers to your light clothing. If you’ve avoided sweating and can keep your head and feet warm, you’ll likely be ready for a long sit.
Avoid the sausage biscuit run
Remember, a quick stop at a fast food restaurant before your deer hunt may curb the hunger pains, but it could also undo all the painstaking scent control preparation you’ve done leading up to this point. Hot sausage biscuit smell is not a scent that is natural to the deer woods. So, as good as that greasy goodness may sound to you early on hunting day, try an apple, banana or granola bar instead.
Final scent control steps
So, you’ve been careful to eliminate as much human scent as possible prior to walking to your deer stand or blind… but, you’re not done yet! Scent control clothing is another layer of detection protection against a deer’s nose.
There are plenty of scent control clothing items, suits, etc on the market, so it won’t be hard for you to find some options here. It’s important to not only cover your body, but also your head and face, when possible. Remember, the goal is to have as little of your scent floating through the air or left on the ground as possible.
In addition, you can also use scent eliminator sprays to spray down your hunting clothing, boots, etc before walking to your hunting location. Again, there are many available on the market to choose from.
The whitetail not only sees movement extremely well, it has a nose that is made to smell trouble. If you expect to harvest a mature buck, you had better not ignore proper scent control.
Tip #2: Make the wind your friend
So, you’ve been careful to remove and keep as much human scent off you as possible prior to the hunt. But, that’s only a part of a good scent control hunting strategy.
It’s imperative that you pay attention to wind direction each and every time you prepare to hunt. Ignoring wind direction is one of the biggest mistakes you can make as a hunter. That’s why wind direction makes our list of deer hunting tips. And, it goes hand in hand with scent control. Even if you’re hunting in suburban areas, where deer are more accustomed to human presence, you need to be in tune with the wind.
As we’ve already mentioned, a deer’s nose is a defense mechanism. If it smells you, it smells danger. So, you don’t want your scent blowing over areas that are holding deer.
It’s important, whenever possible, to be familiar with deer patterns on the property you’ll be hunting. Know where the bedding and feeding areas are, as well as the travel routes that deer take between the two.
If you know where deer tend to be, then you know you need to avoid the wind carrying your scent in their direction. Staying downwind of where the deer typically are is very important.
Paying attention to these details is not only important for when you are hunting in your deer stand or blind, but also when you are entering and exiting your hunting location.
DO YOU KNOW HOW TO BE DOWNWIND OF THE DEER? READ ON…
So, what is upwind vs downwind?
Be sure the wind is working in your favor when hunting whitetail deer.
Maybe you’re new to deer hunting or maybe you just haven’t ever paid attention to wind direction when you hunt. But, you’ve heard hunters using the terms “upwind” and “downwind” and you’re wondering what that really means. It’s really fairly simple.
Being “upwind” of the deer means you’re above, or upward, of their location. So, that means if the wind blows over you, everything below you would potentially be detecting your scent. That’s not what you want.
Being “downwind” of the deer means that you are below their location as it pertains to the wind. This is what you want. You want to be downwind of the deer so that when the wind blows, it does not blow toward the deer you are hunting.
If you know where deer typically bed down and feed, an easy way to remember how to stay downwind is to try to always have the wind blowing in your face as you approach those locations. This will keep your scent downwind of the deer your are hunting.
Remember, you don’t want a deer’s nose to detect you while you are hunting in the stand or in the blind, but you also don’t want them to smell you when you leave. If they do, they could pattern you and of course, avoid those locations, which means less deer for you to potentially see and kill. So, be sure that your exit route is downwind of where the deer are as well. This takes careful planning.
Every hunter fantasizes about that perfect hunting scenario… There you are in your favorite hunting location. Out walks the buck of a lifetime. If you’re a bowhunter, maybe you imagine him walking 15 yards upwind of your stand. Then, he magically turns broadside, presenting the perfect shot for a clean pass-through. He stands there, looking the other direction, as you stand, draw, put the pin on him and release the perfect shot, at the perfect time, on the perfect buck.
It may be virtually impossible to think just like a deer, but hunters need to use their imagination to try and pre-determine all the possible scenarious that can happen during a whitetail hunt… and practice for them!
Wake up!
Can scenarios like that happen? Sure they can. But, what is more likely, is that there will be a lot of things that factor into whether or not you get the chance to take the deer. Are you going to be prepared for those factors?
While rifle or archery target practice is an important part of honing your hunting skills, you also need to be prepared for the things that can happen during a hunt that you can’t control.
For example, can you shoot your bow effectively from varying stances? Are you as accurate standing up as well as sitting down? Have you practiced shooting at varying heights and angles and in different types of weather?
For spot and stalk hunters, how about on your knees? Rifle hunters, have you practiced shooting off-hand?
Use your imagination and dream up all the possible scenarios that could happen during a hunt. Rely on past experiences as well. Chances are, something is going to happen on a hunt that you didn’t expect… unless of course, you’re ready for it!
Tip #4: Don’t let your deer stand give you away
It’s not enough to know where the deer are on your hunting property and simply hang a lock-on stand or to use a climbing stand. Be sure what that stand placement will look like during the time of day you are hunting.
Be sure that your stand placement doesn’t create silhoetting or shadowing that will get you busted.
You might have picked a location for your deer stand that is covered up with scrapes, licking branches, rubs and other deer sign. You may have even imagined what the deer you’re going to shoot looks like. But, you also need to imagine what you’re going to look like to the deer while you’re in that stand.
Silhoetting
Let’s say you find a great location to hunt. So, you pick a tree for your stand placement, but it has no other trees or cover around it. And, let’s say you will be hunting that stand at a time of day when the sun will be behind you.
Without any surrounding cover, when that big ‘ole sun shines behind you, the deer could potentially get a silhouette of your body against the sunlight. A wary doe or buck may not hang around to see what happens next. And, they will likely be cautious when entering that area again.
So how can you prevent this? One way is to try and select trees that have a wide base that your body’s shape can disappear against. Trees like this obviously cannot be climbed with a climbing stand. They can, however, be very good trees for lock-on deer stands.
If you wear some good camo clothing, it will be more difficult for a deer to silhouette you when you’re sitting with your back against a tree that is wider than you are.
Get coverage…
No not insurance coverage! Whether using a climbing stand or a lock-on stand, is to try to pick a tree that has another tree right beside it, behind it, or around it that can provide some cover for you. It’s important to remember that a deer’s line of sight is often different than yours. Try to visualize what you look like from their perspective.
Any leaves, branches or trees that will provide some break up of your silhouette without hindering your shot can be very beneficial in keeping your location concealed.
Contrary to what some believe, deer can and will look up. If they hear you or run across scent near your tree stand location, they might look up to see what that strange looking thing is above them. That usually doesn’t end in success for the hunter.
Rise above
Hunting higher up in a tree can benefit you in a few ways. First, it can allow your scent to blow higher across the ground, and give you somewhat of an edge in the scent control game. In addition, hunting higher often makes a deer in close range less aware of your presence.
One disadvantage to hunting higher, especially for bowhunters, is that it narrows the window of a clear vitals shot. At steeper angles it can be difficult to get a clean pass-through shot. The last thing you want to do is take a shot that will not allow the deer to have as quick a demise as possible.
So, choose your hunting location after giving much thought to sun location as well as surrounding cover and tree stand height.
Tip #5: Know thy land
If at all possible, you should be familiar with the land you are hunting. Sure, you may get an opportunity to hunt a piece of property, or even public hunting land that you don’t have the opportunity to scout prior to the hunt. However, if you do have full access to the property you will hunt, you should put in the time to be well versed in the details of that property.
It’s important to not only know where the deer are on the property you’re hunting. It’s also critical to know where they are travelling to and from.
Where are the deer and where are they going?
It’s hard to ignore an area of your hunting property that is full of deer sign. But, sometimes, you need to dig deeper into the details. It’s not just important to know where the deer are at a particular time… you also want to know where they’re going. After all, deer tracks tell you where they’ve already been!
Do you know where the deer typically bed down? Are you familiar with the feeding areas and water sources? Where are the travel routes that the deer typically use to move from one area to the next?
For example, it can be very difficult to sneak into and setup in a deer’s bedding area without getting busted. However, if you know where the deer typically go when they leave the bedding area, that’s important to note in formulating a plan to harvest whitetails. Then, be there waiting on the deer when they get there!
Don’t forget the wind
As referenced earlier, all of this must be done while thinking about and paying attention to wind direction. Is your entry route to your hunting spot accessible without having your wind blow to the deer’s location?
It doesn’t matter how many deer you may have on your hunting land. If you don’t have a plan to approach your hunting location downwind of the deer, your hunt could be over before it even begins.
This means you should consider having multiple deer stand locations for varying wind directions. So, if the wind isn’t right on a particular day for that location, resist the urge to hunt it until it is.
When possible, take advantage of creek beds and ditches to access your blind or deer stand location, so that you can minimize the amount of scent you leave on deer travel routes and feeding areas.
Also, be sure you are aware of the prevailing winds on the property you are hunting. And, don’t just know the wind direction. Know how the topography and lay of the land can cause wind currents to swirl or move erratically. Remember, the wind can make or break a hunt. So, know how the lay of your hunting land affects it.
Tip #6: Aim for low scores in predictability
When it comes down to it, you want to be where the deer are going to be when you are hunting. Hopefully, you have done enough scouting of the land and reviewing of trail cam pictures that you can predict deer movement. But, while you want predictable deer, you don’t want to be predictable yourself.
For example, let’s say you knew that a dump truck would speed by, dangerously close to your front door, every single morning at 8:05 am. You would probably be sure you aren’t anywhere outside your front door at that time of day!
Deer are no different. If you are lazy in your hunting strategy and become predictable, deer will simply avoid those hunting locations during the times you try to access them.
Mix things up. Don’t hunt the same deer stand or blind location every time, even if the wind is right. Have multiple hunting locations and multiple ways to access them. And, of course, always pay attention to the wind when you make your entry and exit.
Tip #7: Be a doe stalker
There are meat hunters and trophy hunters. This article isn’t about arguing which group is more right in its hunting approach. But, there is a hunting tip that helps both groups… hunt the does.
Sooner or later, the bucks will be where the does are… be sure you know where that is.
Sooner or later, as the rut begins to heat up, bucks will go on the prowl for hot does. It’s an inevitable part of the whitetail life cycle. And you want to know where the does typically are when it begins.
Even Mr. Big Buck can throw caution to the wind when a hot doe is the prize. If you hunt the does throughout the season, he just might eventually show up in your cross hairs or behind one of your bow sight pins.
You might be a casual hunter, or only have time to hunt a few times a season. Or, you might have the luxury of getting to hunt as often as you like. Either way, knowing where the does are and how they move on a property throughout the course of a hunting season gives you a higher probability of taking a deer, and possibly, the buck of a lifetime.
Tip #8: Know that the rut changes things
The rut certainly provides some opportunities to see daytime bucks. But, remember that as phases of the rut change, so do bucks’ patterns and behaviors.
Most deer hunters would probably say that if they could only hunt one time a year, they would want to hunt during the rut.
The rut is indeed a magical time of year for the whitetail hunter. Bucks that have been mostly nocturnal can show up out of nowhere, trailing or chasing hot does. But, it’s important for hunters to be aware that while the rut can ramp up deer movement and buck activity, it also brings changes.
For example, prior to the peak of the rut, you may have hunted scrape lines and rub lines, hoping to get a shot at bucks that might be working those locations. During this time, bucks are looking to leave their territorial scent as well as checking scrapes for any receptive does in the area.
But, when bucks are locked up with does during peak phase of the rut, scrape activity can seemingly vanish. It’s important to know be aware that as the phases of the rut change, so does buck activity.
Tip #9: Don’t let technology get you busted
Communication while hunting has come a long way over the years. Hi-tech hunting used to mean having a walkie-talkie with an ear piece. Now, cell phones allow us to text our family and friends as well as take and send pictures and video… all while in the deer stand or blind.
However, if we took a poll of all deer hunters, we would probably find that more than a few have been busted by deer because they were paying more attention to Facebook, Twitter and Instagram than they were their surroundings.
If you give a deer enough chances, they’ll eventually be able to spot those busy little fingers texting away on a that wonderful piece of technology called a smart phone. When that happens you’ll wish you had been, well… smarter. Aside from that, there are so many things (other than deer) in the great outdoors that you can miss. Don’t let staring down at a screen keep you from fully enjoying the wonderful creation around you.
Be sure to take a shot that will lead to the quickest possible kill.
Tip #10: Take an ethical shot
Whether with a bow or a gun, taking an ethical shot on a deer is an important part of being a responsible hunter.
Now, the definition of an “ethical shot” has certainly been hotly debated. But, however you define it, hopefully it leads to the cleanest and quickest kill possible for the scenario.
To do this requires practice, patience and sometimes even the ability to pass up a shot that is not ideal. It’s part of being a disciplined hunter. Will you always succeed in a clean and quick kill? Probably not. But, doing so effectively means you have probably learned some lessons by not taking some ethical shots.
Whatever the case, do your best to learn from others, as well as your own experiences, to take the most ethical shot possible.
Conclusion
There are certainly many more deer hunting tips to be shared, but hopefully these 10 have provided you with some knowledge and insight into how to improve your hunting strategy and increase your rate of hunting success. We hope you put a hole N1!
